Machine for treating hat bodies



March 21, 1933. e. w. CUMING 1,902,118

I MACHINE FOR TREATING HAT BODIES Filed April 18, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l".J.ELTRE .3.

l NVEEIOR George 11/. may

BY g A ATTORNEY March 21, 1933- G. w. CUMING MACHINE FOR TREATING HATBODIES Filed April 18, 1930 s Sheets-Sheet 2 'JEURE E m MAM1 ATTORNEYMarch 21, 1933- e. w. CUMING 1,902,118

MACHINE FOR TREATING HAT BODIES Filed April 18, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 5aunt-12E A7 '45 M am INVENTOR 450192 Z0. Kama/19 BYM/ ATTORNEY PatentedMar. 21,1933

UNITED GEORGE w. CUMING, OF NEW drank, N. Y.,, -rmsmu'ozt TO: a. A.comma & 00. me; A Gong i mmnnvn mm I rnnarme j HAT nomns "1 Applicationfiled April 18,

My invention relates to machines for stretching and treating the crownsand the brims of unfinished hats, usually made of felt or the like. V. pa More particularly stated a my invent on contemplates an improvedmachine in which .a hat body is placed and operated upon, for thepurpose ofefiattening out and stretching the brim, and forming thecrowm, e an Myinvention contemplates a machine f the general type justmentioned, infwh1ch the crown zand hrim of the hat body are subjected tothe action of steam, the brim being stretched radially outward. 1 q Myinvention further contemplates theuse of a hollow metal that bloc-kto bedetachably fitted into the crown of the unfinished hat, the hat blockbeing provided with perforations through which steam passes lnto thehatcrown, and through thewall thereof. In addition, my inventioncontemplates the use of aplurality of spacing disks ofdiffenentithicknesses in connection with the hat block, for the purposeotvarying the cited ti-ve depth of the hat block. p :1"

My invention also comprehends various improvements in hat formingmachines generally, for the purpose of improving the efficiency thereof.v a Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification,and in which like referencecharacters indicate likeparts throughout all ofthe fig HI'BS, j"c, Figurel is a side elevationof mydevice, here shown as partly, brokenaway.

Figure 2 is a substantially centralverti cal cross section through themechanism showninFigure1.f i

Figure :3 is a fragmentary plan of; the steam chamber and mechanismcarried there.- by,-certain parts being removed and others beingshown'asbroken away. i V

Figure 4 is a side view,.partly aneleva tion and partly a centralsection, showing the improved hollow metal hat block forming a part ofmy invention.

Figure 5 is an inverted View of the hat block. a

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the eimplanor bottom 1930. Serial No.445,242.; r

proved" presser fo'oti'orming a part ofjmy invention. i Y

Figure 7 isa plan view ofthe presser foot shown in Figured Figure 8 is"one of :the spacing disks for varying the reliective'deptheot thehatblock, A cross beam issliown at v8 and is supportedfromyerticalstandards QfOfiWhlCh twopairs are used. These verticalstandards are connected with supporting feet10, serving as pedestals. 7

. Aipalr 'ofhorifzontal beams 1 1, :one of which is shown in Figure 2,and a pair o f end; pieces one of whichjs shown at 12, togetherconstitute .a platform supported' by" the wer ticallstandards 9.- Thesepants are heldjtogether by 'bolts 13;. 1 1

-Asteamchamber L4 is mountedupon the platiorm justmentioned andconnected with the steam chamber isa nozzle 15. ,To the latter'isconnected a steam pipe 16, to which steamis admitted into theisteamlcha'mber'. Located rwithinzthe bottom of the-steam chamber isalbaflieplate 17,,;s hoWn more I particularly in Figureii2. This bafiteplate is used for /equalizing the distribution of the-steam, as admittedinto the steam chains ber, .and-for this. purpose is adjustable by meansof bolts 18 and adjusting nuts 2L9 ivhich support the weightlof thebafiie plate Another .hafile platei-s-shown at 20, and is, disposed inclose proximity to an Linlet An exhaust pipe 29, provided with a gate; 3O-oper-ated by hand, communicates -with the steam chamber throughthe-inlet 21 gas controlled by the gate 30,1 The exhaust pipe 29leadstoa blower, .not showmby aid-of which,-a partiabvacuum is formed within 1the steam chamber, asoccasion may require.

- )The steam chamber 14 is provided at-its top with :a' large annularflange 31, integral with it, and resting upon this; flangeis a :95gasket 32 of annular form.. t

' Engaging this gasket is a large annular flange 33., carried by a lfingE i. This ring is integral with theflangei83 and extends upwardly fromthe tap of the Steam jcham- 9 j a handle 37 whereby it may be turnedback and forth, as hereinafter more completely described.

A hat forming ring-380i large-size is located above the cam ring 35. Aspider 39 is'detachably mounted upon the hat forming ring 38.

' The spider 39 carries adotvel pin'4O extending upwardly upon it, andis provided with a nipple 40a. The purpose of the nipple is toallowthepassa'ge of steam upwardlyfrom the steamchainberl4l Reamupon 'thspider 39; are spacing "disks 42. 43,-a1'id resting'upon these spacingdisksis'the hat bloclt} shown a't' 44.

Theform of the hat block may be understood from Figure 4." 'lt'ishollowxand is provided with a bottom 'wall of annular form, servingas abase: and with openings 4 6"and47,and withperforations'flsf The opening46 is for fittin'gjover the nipple 40a, and the opening 47 is to fitover the dowel pin 40." Thu s the jspacing'blocks 42, 43 and thehatblock 44 are held together in group formation by means ofthe nipple 40aand dowel pin 401 p f 1 Each spacing block 42, '43,, has the formshownin Figures and {is-provided with a dowel hole '48 afor registeringwith the dowel hole 47' of thefhat bloclnfll" 1 *A hat crown 49 anda hatbrim'50 together constitute 'a'hat'body;

. -A- forming ring, for the purpose of shaping-the hat body, and"particularly forldemarking the brim from the crown, is shown at 51.

The-forming ring 51is detaehably mounted'upon and carried by'aringcarrier 52, of the form shown more particularly in Figures 6 and 7-.This ring carrier is hollow, but being made of metal-and of rathermassive" constr'uctionit isquiteheavy. -gThe-fo'r-ming 51 is providedwith a pair of bolts 52a, by'aid'whereof it is detach ably connectedwith the ring carrier 52, as may be understood from Figures 6 and 7 Thering carrier 52 is provided with a pair radially inward. v v

For the purpose of raising andlowering ofears 53, 53, integral withitand extending the-ring carrier 52 I provide apair of guide rods 55,55,extending vertically and provid+ ed with threaded portions 54,54.

Engaging these threaded portions and exprovided with threaded necks 59,59. These are-simply threaded portions of reduced diameter as comparedwith the threaded portions 54,54, and are integral therewith.

Fitted upon the threaded necks 59, 59 are nuts 60, 60-, whichextendthrough holes 61, 61 in the ears 53, 53, as may be understood fromFigure 2. Byfthisarrangement, the ring carrier 52 is mounted firmly uponthe lower ends of'the guide bars 55. i The guide'bars 55, 55 extendthrough bearings 62, 62', supported by the cross beam 8, and are free toslide vertically in relation to these bearings.-

F or the] purpose of raisingand lowering the ringcarrier 52 by means ofthe guide rods 55, '55, I provide-a flexible supporting member 63,such'a's a chain, this being connected with-a sector '64 asindicatedmore particularly-in Figures rum 2. j a

The sector. 64 ismounted firmly upon a shaft 65, and connected rigidlywith the latter is a handlever' 66, whereby the sector may bero'ekeduponthe axisof the shaft 65. This shaft is journal'ed upona hanger 67 andcarries a counterweight 68,- for balancing the hand lever 66. 1 'fThe'guide rods 55,55 carry stop collars 62a, 62a. These stoi collarsareadju'stable relatively to the guide'rocls, and ar'e'ada'pted to restupon the bearings 62, 62, so as to support' the weight" of the ringcarrie1'l52 and parts carried thereby. v Y 1 Whenever the guide rods 55,55 are moved downwardly to their limit of travel,- the stop collars 62a,62a, carried by the-guiderods, lodge'uponjthe bearings 62 '62, sothatthe weight of the ring carrier '52 and forming ring 5liis nowsupported by the stop collars. 5 Thus'when the ring carrier 52 andforming ring 51 occupy their lowermost positions, they-aresimplysuspended from the stop collars, at a. predetermined exact distanceabove tl'ie' spider 39, thisflistancebeing determined by the adju'stmentof thestop collars 62a relatively' t'o the guiderods'55, 55. 'Th'eoperator, by graspingth'e hand lever 66 and operating it, canraise orlower-the ring carrier. 52, withth'e'forming ring 51, so as to bring theforming ring down upon a hat brim, at a predeterminedlevel above the spider 39, and thus at-a definite distance below the topfof'the hat crown,as shown in Figure 2.. Thus the forming ring demarksthe hat crown fromthe. brim, :and assists in forming thehatv A cam. ring 35 is associatedwith a number ing-the handle 37 and turning the cam ring in a clockwisedirection according to Figure 3, causes the several rollers 71 to beforced radially outward.

'The hat forming ring 38 is provided with a number of slideways 69,extending radially outward, as may be understood from Figure 3.

There are eight of these slideways, ar-

ranged in the proximate form of a circle; only three of them, however,being shown in Figure 1. I

Mounted within the respective slideways 69 are slides 70, adapted to bemoved radially inward and outward relatively to a common center.

Each slide 70 carries a cam roller 71. The cam rollers 71 extenddownwardly, into engagement with the faces 36 of the cam ring Theoperator, by grasping the handle 37 and rocking the cam ring back andforth, causes the slides 70 to move radially inward and outward. Thatis, the slides move outward as the cam rollers 71 are forced outwardlyby the cam faces 36, and move inwardly by the tension of the springs 75.

Each slide 70 carries a gripping lever 7 2, mounted thereon by means ofa bearing 73.

Each gripping lever 72 carries a jaw 74, facing downwardly as indicatedin Figure 2.

Each slide carries a pair of tensile springs 75, and these springs areconnected with the bearings 73, so that the tensile springs tend to movethe slides radially inward.

Each slide 70 is provided with a jaw 76, facing upwardly and mating oneof the jaws 74.

For the purpose of actuating the gripping levers 7 2 I connect theselevers with pull rods 77. The pull rods extend downwardly, and at theirlower ends are connected with a spider 78, the latter being connectedwith a treadle 79, as shown more particularly in Figure 1. The treadleis journaled upon a cross rod 81.

Another cross rod 82 serves as a limiting, stop for preventing excessiveupward travel of the treadle.

The spring serves to retract the treadle 79, and by so doing to move thepull rods 77 upwardly, thereby causing the gripping le vers 7 2 to rock,so that each jaw 7 4 is moved downwardly toward some one of the jaws 76.

The operator, by releasing the treadle 79 with his foot, so thatthe jaws7 4 move downwardly toward their mating jaws 76, thus causes the jaws 74and 76 to grip the adjacent edge of the hat brim 50, if such hat brim isin the position indicated for it in Figure 2.

If, next, the operator grasps the-handle 37 and rocks the cam ring 35 soas to force the cam rollers 71 radially outward, the brim 50 of the hatbody is stretched. V

I will now describe the several successive steps which take place duringthetreat ment of a hat body. I v

. Assuming the machine to be in the condition indicated in Figures 1 and2, the oper ator first raises the hand lever 66 to the upper limit-of itstravel so that the ring carrier 52 and the forming ring 51 are-liftedclear of the hat block 44 and out of the way.

At practically the same instant, the operator. depresses the treadle 79and thereby rocks the gripping levers '72, so that the jaws 74 areraised, and the-hat brim is released. The operator now removes thehatbody, and this leaves the machine clear.

The operator still keeping the treadle down, next fits a new hat body inposition, so that the crown covers the hat block and the brim; extendsloosely between the gripping jaws 7 1 and 76.

Next the operator lowers'the hand lever 66 andbrings the ring carrier 52and forming ring 51 down, so that their weight is now supported mainlyby the stop collars 62a, 62a, the forming ringthus fitting rather snuglyaround'thel'bas'e of the crown, and serving to demark definitely thecrown and brim. Next the operator allows the treadle 79 to rise, whichit readily does under tension of the spring 80, 'and'this" causes'thegripping jaws 74 and 76*tjo gripthe edge of thebrim.

Then the operator grasps theha-ndle' 37 and rocks the cam ring 35,causingthe cam rollers 71 to carrytheslides radially outward stretchingthe hat brim tightly. "I

' Next the operator admits steam'fro'm the steam pipe '16 and nozzle 15into the, steam chamberli. 'Steam 'from the "steamcha' mber passesupwardly through the nipple40a into the hollow hat bloeli 44:, and'thence through the perforations 48 and through the substance of the hatcrown.

The action'of the steam'upon the hat crown is to soften the material.and render it somewhat plastic. so that under the stretching action towhich it is being subjected it is made to fit neatly upon the hat block.its form for this purpose being rendered both definite and accurate.

The hat bodv being thus properly steamed v and formed. the operator cutsoff the supply of steam, and subjects the steam chamber 14 to the actionof the suction blower, not shown,

to which the pipe 29 leads.

This is conveniently done by simply opening the gate 30. This removesthe steam from the steam chamber, and dries the hat body.

The operation is then repeated, as often as there are hat bodies to betreated.

The hat forming rings 51, being interchangeable, are of different sizes,for the purpose of accommodating the machine to bat bodies having hatcrowns of different sizes.

In order to change the depth of the hat interchanged asoccasion mayrequire, and as above described. v

' I do not limit myself to the precise mecha nism shown,asvarlations'may be made thereimwithout departing from my invention, thescope of which is commensurate with my claim. Y v 1 i Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure byLetters Patent is as follows f V In a machine for treating hat bodies,the combination including means forming a steam chamber having a topwall with an bodyextendlng radially across the top wall of'thesteamchest awayvfrom said hat block, v a rpluralit-y. ofxgripping membersslidably mounted upon said top'wall to slide radially thereof toward andaway from the hat block adapted for gripping the-brim portion of the hatbody and stretching the same radially across the top wall of the steamchest away ,fromthehat block, and operating means for .1 r a saidforming ring and said gripping members.- .e

Signedat NewYork city,in the county of New York anclStateof New York,this 14th day of April, 1930.

GEORGE W. ,CUMING.

